Three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of an e-hailing driver in Pretoria West abandoned their bail applications at the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Monday.
Dikeledi Phela and McClaren Mushwana, both from Lotus Gardens, and Gositsiane Machidi from Soshanguve, are facing charges of premeditated murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Isaac Satlat, 22, was attacked by his passengers who had requested an e-hailing ride in Pretoria West on Wednesday last week, according to police. He was robbed of his cellphone and strangled to death.
Dashcam footage from the vehicle, which showed the attack on the driver, was circulated widely on social media and assisted police in identifying the suspects: a woman and two men. Police are searching for a fourth suspect.
Satlat was working part-time as an e-hailing driver while completing an automotive mechanical engineering internship at Centurion. He would have celebrated his birthday on March 12.
Lumka Mahanjana, NPA spokesperson, said the accused had ordered an e-hailing service using a mobile phone number that was not registered in their name.
“When the vehicle arrived, Mphela and an accomplice, who is still at large, got into the vehicle, while the other two accused followed in a separate car.
“Mphela and her accomplice allegedly forced the deceased to stop the vehicle, strangled him to death and robbed him of his cellphone and vehicle, which was later recovered. The incident was captured by a camera installed in the vehicle.”
The trial has been postponed to February 23.
TimesLIVE
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